Hamper bag with hinged cover



D. TAMES HAMPER BAG WITH HINGED COVER l Feb. 7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

Filed Aug. 28, 1959 FIGA INVENTQR.

Da n i e I Ta m es I/r/ M/ ATTORNEY Filed Aug. 28, 1959 D.TAMES HAMPER BAG WITH HINGED COVER FIG.6

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR.

Daniel Tams ATTORNEY Unite States arent HAMPER BAG WITH HINGED COVER Daniel Temes, 3500 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, iii.

Filed Aug. Z8, 1959, Ser. No. 836,666

4 Claims. (Cl. 1S01) This invention relates to bags, generally known as hamper or laundry bags, used for the collection of soiled linen and, more particularly to an improved and more sanitary construction of such bags including a cover useable therewith during the time the bag is being filled with laundry items.

In my prior U.S. Patent No. 2,761,480, issued Septomber 4, 1956, I have shown and described a hamper or laundry bag particularly adaptable for hospital use. This bag, in addition to special constructional features eliminating `germ and dirt collecting pockets, includes novel tie means for securing the bag to a support track and novel closure band means for effectively closing the bag when the latter is lled.

In accordance with the present invention, an improvement in this construction is provided by the addition of a readily opened and closed cover for the hamper which may be used while the hamper is supported on a framework during filling of the hamper. This cover is in the form of a flap, preferably circular, having a depending rim extending along the periphery of the flap. The lower reinforced edge of the rim is stitched, along a part of its peripheral extent, to the back wall of the hamper at a distance below the upper edge thereof. The back wall is reinforced at such hinge by a reinforcing tape stitched thereto and to the rim of the cover.

The location of this hinge is slightly above the point of attachment to the bag of the tapes by means of which the bag is secured to a support standby drawing the open end of the bag downwardly over a top support rail of the stand. Consequently, whenV the bag is thus tied to the stand, the hinge is below the top rail a distance of the order of the depth of the depending rim and is then on the outside of the bag. The hinged cover may then be telescopingly closed over the open end of the bag or opened about its hinge connection to the back wall.

However, when the filled bag is removed from the stand, this cover is drawn inside the bag so that it offers no interference with the closure band, secured across the upper end of the front wall, being turned inside out over the bag open end to close the bag for transport to the laundry or the like.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical ernbodment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation View of the hamper with the front wall partly broken away to illustrate the cover in the hamper and its hinging to the rear wall of the ham- Per;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cover pulled upwardly out of the hamper;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3--3 of Fig. l and 4-4 of Fig. 2, respectively;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of the hamper mounted on its support rack, the cover being shown in the closed position and an open position being indicated by the broken lines; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the ,line 6-6 of Fig. l illustrating the attachment of the tapes for securing the hamper to its support.

As the hamper, except for the addition of the novel hinged lid or cover, is essentially the same in details of construction as the hamper of my said U.S. Patent No. 2,761,480, only a brief description of the hamper parts other than the lid or cover will be given, and reference is made to said patent for details of the hamper construction.

Referring to the drawings, the hamper 10 is preferably made of relatively heavy fabric, such as canvas or duck, and comprises respective front and rear sides or walls 11, 12, a substantially circular bottom 13, and a wide closure band 15. As described in said U.S. patent, sides 11, 12 and closure band 15 are folded over one another as in U formation and stitched together at their opposite lengthwise edges by double stitching. Also, the lower ends of sides 11, 12 are folded inwardly on themselves and are secured by double stitching to the edge of circular bottom 13 by a U-folded covering tape. This interlocking of the edges of the parts provides a tight, strong joining leaving little or no room for germs or dust to collect.

Also as described in said prior U.S. patent, when the bag is in the open position shown in Figs. 1 4 of the present drawings, the closure band 15 is on the outside of side 11 and extends across the full width of side 11, and from the top of the bag for a substantial distance downwardly. There is thus ample material in band 15 so that, when this band is reversed to extend over side 12 to close the top opening 14 of the bag, the side 12 is well overlapped by band 15 even when hamper 16 is carrying its full capacity of soiled linen. To provide a larger top opening 14, the lower portion of hamper 10 is arcuately tapered inwardly, the larger top opening providing for easier filling of the hamper.

Hampers of this type are usually hung in open position on a wheeled tubular support having a circular upper rail 16, one form of support being shown in Fig. 4 of my prior patent. To mount the hamper on the support, the upper portion thereof is folded downwardly and outwardly over rail 16 to hold the hamper in open position, as shown in Fig. 5 of the present drawings. The hamper is securely held in this position by tie bands 17, 17 secured to the inside surface of the hamper and normally within the latter. These tie bands are exposed when the upper portion of the hamper is folded outwardly and downwardly over the rail 16. The tie bands 17 serve to hold the hamper against dislodgement due to the weight of the soiled linen.

While the hamper as shown and described in my said prior U.S. patentwas provided with the closure band 15 for closing the filled hamper, the hamper was open at all times during the filling thereof and when supported on the rail 16. Under many circumstances, this is an undesirable condition due to odors, exposure to dust and germs, and the like. Consequently, it is desirable to provide an easily opened cover for use during filling of the hamper and which will not interfere with closing of the filled hamper by reversing the closure band 15.

In accordance with the invention, such a hinged cover is provided in a novel manner. A reinforcing tape 2S, of the same material as the hamper, is stitched along the inner surface of back side 12 by stitching 22. This tape serves as a hinge for cover 20.

Cover 2i) is formed of the same material as the rest of the hamper, and comprises a circular cover piece 21 and a rim 23. Cover piece 21 and rim 23 have their margins inturned and juxtaposed for seaming together by stitching 24 to form a joint 27. A substantial part ofrim 23 is stitched to hinge tape 25 and side 12 by strong stitched seams indicated at 26.

In mounting the hamper on rail 16, the upper portion is turned outwardly and downwardly over the rail for a distance of the order of the width of cover rim 23. As tape 25 is about at the level of tie bands 17, the hamper may be tied onto its support at about the level of the hinge tape 2S. In this position, the cover 20 may be readily swung over the open top of the hamper with rim 23 telescoping over the sides 11 and 12. The cover 20 can be readily swung open to fill the hamper and then swung back into its closed position.

When the hamper is filled to capacity, it is removed from its support and the turned over upper portion straightened out. Cover 20 is now inside the hamper on top of the soiled linen, and closure band 15 may be readily reversed over side 12 to close the filled bag for removal. Handles 18 are provided for use in carrying the lled hamper.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A fabric hamper bag for soiled linen having front and rear sides stitched to each other along their longitudinal edges, and a circular bottom stitched to the lower edges of said sides to provide an open top hamper arranged to be supported in lling position by folding its upper portion outwardly and downwardly over a closed curvilinear support rail; and a fabric cover including a stitched along part of itsfree periphery to the inner surface of said rear side below the top of the hamper bag to form a hinge connection of the cover to the bag; whereby, when the hamper bag is so supported, the hinge connection is exposed and below the then upper edge of the hamper bag for swinging of the cover into and out of embracing closing relation with such then v upper edge of the hamper bag during filling of the latter.

2. A fabric hamper bag as claimed in claim 1 in which said cover comprises a circular cover piece having an inturned margin stitched to an inturned upper margin of said rim.

3. A fabric hamper bag as claimed in claim 1 including a reinforcing tape stitched across the inner surface References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,134,441 Geluso Oct. 25, 1938 2,543,299 Pritchard Feb. 27, 1951 2,761,480 Tames Sept. 4, 1956 2,789,610 Pritchard Apr. 23, 1957 2,842,179 Hoeppner July 8, 1958y 

